Mellon Research Assistant Professor of Native American Studies

Montana State University

Bozeman (MT)

On-site

USD 63,000 - 77,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Montana State University’s Department of Native American Studies seeks a Mellon Research Assistant Professor of Native American Studies to conduct research on Native American legal history, including federal Indian law, Indigenous governance and epistemologies, and teach in NAS. The position supports an open educational resource funded by Mellon.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD by August 14, 2027, demonstrate scholarship in Indigenous history, and have teaching experience at graduate

Qualifications

PhD in History, Native American Studies, or a relevant field, completed by August 14, 2027.
Demonstrated record of good scholarship and training in Indigenous and Native American History.
Teaching record supporting the ability to offer courses in Native American Studies, History, or a related field at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Responsibilities

Conduct independent research in Native American legal history, including federal Indian law, Indigenous legal systems and epistemologies, and/or Indigenous governance and sovereignty in support of the Equality Before the Law Open Educational Resource.
Teach one course in the Native American Studies curriculum each year.
Participate actively in the Department of Native American Studies at MSU, advise students, and promote student success.
Coordinate and share research, storytelling, and programs with community and tribal partners.
Support the development of the OER and the Mellon grant in partnership with PI and Co-PIs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and MSU; and
Present research at the project’s graduate fellows’ program, conferences, and other community gatherings.

Skills

Communication skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Advocacy

Education

PhD in History or Native American Studies

Demonstrated Indigenous history scholarship

Job description

Mellon Research Assistant Professor of Native American Studies

As part of your application, please upload the following required documents:

Cover Letter addressing the Required and Preferred Qualifications

References and Letters of Recommendation: All applicants will be required to provide a minimum of three references during the application process. References will be contacted automatically by email once the application is submitted to request a letter of recommendation. Applicants should notify their references in advance and let them know that letters must be submitted by the screening date. References may also be contacted by phone as part of the final reference check process during the finalist stage.

Position Information

Announcement Number

Announcement Number FAC - VA - 27011

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Working Title Mellon Research Assistant Professor of Native American Studies

Brief Position Overview

The Department of Native American Studies at Montana State University seeks a specialist in Native American legal history.

Faculty Tenure Track

Faculty Tenure Track No

Faculty Rank

Position Number

Position Number TBD

Department

Department Native American Studies

Division

Division College of Letters & Science

Appointment Type

Contract Term

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation AFMSU

FTE

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible

Salary Starting at $70,000, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

Contract Type LOA

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

General Statement

The Mellon Research Assistant Professor of Native American Studies will conduct research on Native American legal history, including federal Indian law, Indigenous legal systems and epistemologies, and/or Indigenous governance and sovereignty, and teach in Native American Studies. The position supports a grant from the Mellon Foundation to build an open educational resource.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct independent research in Native American legal history, including federal Indian law, Indigenous legal systems and epistemologies, and/or Indigenous governance and sovereignty in support of the "Equality Before the Law” Open Educational Resource;
Teach one course in the Native American Studies curriculum each year;
Participate actively in the Department of Native American Studies at MSU , advise students, and promote student success;
Coordinate and share research, storytelling, and programs with community and tribal partners;
Support the development of the OER and the Mellon grant in partnership with PI and Co-PIs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and MSU ; and
Present research at the project’s graduate fellows’ program, conferences, and other community gatherings.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

PhD in History, Native American Studies, or a relevant field, completed by August 14, 2027.
Demonstrated record of good scholarship and training in Indigenous and Native American History.
Teaching record supporting the ability to offer courses in Native American Studies, History, or a related field at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Demonstrated experience in research, teaching, and curricular development in Native American Studies or legal history.
Demonstrated expertise in digital history, and/or community engaged partnerships.

The Successful Candidate Will

Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Be able to work productively in a dynamic and interdisciplinary department.
Be an effective advocate for the Department within the University and with external constituencies.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This position is contingent upon continued grant funding. Funding is currently anticipated for two years, with the potential for additional funding.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program

The Department

The Department of Native American Studies is in the College of Letters and Science. It is the only Indigenous Studies/Native American Studies program in a mainstream institution accredited by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium ( WINHEC ). Uniquely, the NAS Department is home to the American Indian and Alaska Native Student Success Services ( AIANSSS ), providing wrap-around cultural programming and support to Indigenous students from all across campus (not just those enrolled in NAS academic programs).

The Department offers a non-teaching undergraduate minor in Native American Studies ( NAS ), a graduate certificate in NAS and a Master of Arts in NAS . A new graduate certificate in Indigenous Food Systems has been approved and a new suite of courses to support this certificate are under development. Courses in Native American Studies are an integral part of the Diversity Category in the University Core requirements. Faculty teaching loads may include undergraduate and graduate courses.

The Department of Native American Studies and its American Indian and Alaska Native Student Success Services are housed in American Indian Hall, a 32,000 square foot state-of-the-art office and classroom building opened in January of 2022.

Faculty and staff in Native American Studies acknowledge and practice the Departmental core values of Honesty, Generosity, Kindness & Inclusivity, Hard Work, Family, Humility, Spirituality, Humor & Respect. We are guided by a Student Well‑being Model developed collaboratively with our students, staff and faculty as part of the Department’s ongoing and successful work to earn and maintain accreditation with the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium ( WINHEC ). Integral to the Student Well‑being Model are our Cultural Standards —Knowledge, Relationship, Land, Sovereignty—standards that we actively endeavor to weave through all the Department’s cultural, academic and administrative activities.

The College

The College of Letters and Science ( CLS ), the largest center for learning, teaching and research at Montana State University, offers students an excellent liberal arts and sciences education in nearly 50 majors, 25 minors and over 25 graduate degrees within the four areas of the humanities, social sciences, natural and physical sciences, and mathematics and social sciences.

Building on the great strength of our traditional disciplines, the college provides exciting opportunities for faculty and students at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary inquiry. CLS is dedicated to supporting student success, discovering and disseminating new knowledge, and providing an atmosphere in which discovery and learning are integrated and valued. CLS is at the confluence of intellectual tradition, discovery, and innovation.

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date

Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search.

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on October 13, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

As part of your application, please upload the following required documents:

Cover Letter addressing the Required and Preferred Qualifications

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

FLSA Status

FLSA Status Exempt

Required Documents